Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed on the need to eliminate terrorism, expressing hope that peace will return and bilateral relations will normalize.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabia, Khawaja Asif confirmed that a ceasefire agreement has been reached between Pakistan and Afghanistan, aimed primarily at addressing the persistent problem of terrorism in both countries.
The minister thanked the Emir of Qatar, the President of Türkiye, and the Turkish delegation head for their mediation, saying that the presence of Qatar and Türkiye serves as a guarantee of the agreement. He added that both nations have acknowledged terrorism as the main cause of border tensions and have agreed to take effective measures to curb it.
Khawaja Asif noted that terrorism has for years affected the border regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan and that last week’s clashes between the two sides stemmed from the same issue. “Both countries have now realized that the immediate elimination of terrorism is essential,” he said.
The Defence Minister further revealed that both sides are committed to taking serious and coordinated steps to combat terrorism, warning that failure to do so could threaten the peace and stability of the entire region. The understanding was primarily achieved through mediation by Qatar and Türkiye, while the final details of the agreement will be finalized at another meeting scheduled in Istanbul next week.
Khawaja Asif said that the Afghan Defence Minister had also acknowledged that terrorism is the root cause of tensions and agreed to establish an effective mechanism to address the challenges. “Both nations have suffered major human and financial losses in recent years, but we are hopeful that peace will now return and Pakistan-Afghanistan relations will normalize,” he added.
Regarding Pakistan-Afghanistan trade, the minister stated that cross-border trade and transit will also resume. Afghanistan will be able to use Pakistani ports, while Afghan refugees with valid visas and documents will be allowed to stay in Pakistan. However, he clarified that the repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals will continue.
“The use of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border should become formal and regulated, just like borders between other countries,” Asif said, adding that it is too early to say whether Pakistan is fully satisfied. “We will have to see in the coming weeks and months how effectively the agreement is implemented.”
He concluded that Pakistan and Afghanistan have been neighbors for centuries and geography cannot be changed. “We hope that after this agreement, both countries can move forward with good relations. The presence of our brotherly countries, Qatar and Türkiye, has given us confidence, and we are grateful to them,” the minister said.
